What Managers Need to Know About Slack, Yammer, and Chatter

What Managers Need to Know About Slack, Yammer, and Chatter

What Managers Need to Know About Slack, Yammer, and Chatter2017-10-262017-10-26https://cdn.londoncalling.co/wp-content/uploads/logo220x100.pngLondon Callinghttps://londoncalling.co:443/wp-content/uploads/hbr-social-tools.png200px200px

Many companies have started to realise that a collaborative workforce is more productive and can deliver significant efficiencies.

A recent report from the McKinsey global institute of 4,200 companies reported that 72% were using some form of collaborative tool such as Slack, Chatter or Yammer.

In the latest Harvard Business Review, an in-depth look at how a large financial services firm was using their tool was undertaken. An A-B test found the group using the tool were 31% more likely to find co-worker expertise, and 88% more likely to help find who could connect them with an expert.

The report identifies 4 traps that organisations fail into with internal social networks:

1. Flawed millennial assumptions – millennials are initially uncomfortable about using social at work

2. Repressing informal communication – social tools at work are seen as “official” tools and often informal chat is frowned upon – when it can help build connections

3. Failure to recognise learning – time spent on these networks should be seen and rewarded as learning time

4. Focus on the wrong data – analytics from these tools may mask human behaviours. The research is spot on and well worth a deeper dive.

Based in London, Practical Futurist and former Global Managing Partner at IBM, Andrew Grill is a popular and sought-after presenter and commentator on issues around digital disruption, workplace of the future and new technologies such as blockchain. Andrew is a multiple TEDx and International Keynote Speaker.